Connecting-piece for the walls of show-cases and the like.



E. MORRIS. CONNECTING PIECE FOR THE WALLSOF SHOW CASES AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4,1917.

Patented June 18, 1918.

EDMUND MORRIS, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 WILIVIARTI-I SHOW CASE COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CONNECTING-ED510151 FOR THE WALLS 0F SHOW-CASES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1mm.

Application filed September 1, 1917. Serial No. 189,490.

b alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND Mourns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connecting-Pieces for the Walls of Show-Cases and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to connecting pieces for the walls of show cases and the like; and its object is to provide a device of that character which may be read' ily adjustable to such walls of different sizes and thickness; and further, to provide such a device in which certain parts may be readily removed and shaped to conform. to walls of different thickness; and further, to provide such a device which shall be simple and economical in construct-ion and very effective for the purposes desired.

In connecting the glass tops, ends and fronts of show cases by such devices, it is desirable to avoid drilling holes or forming sockets in the glass members, for thereby they are liable to break; and where edgeengaging clips are used for holding the lass members it is desirable that such clips be closely conformed to such members, so as not to project unnecessarily therefrom; and it has been found difficult to bend or conform such clips to these glass members or walls (which vary considerably in thickness and edge formation), without breaking or chipping the glass.

These difficulties are avoided by the present invention, whose objects as above expressed, as well as any other objects hereinafter appearing, are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the structure hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a connecting piece of the character mentioned, together with portions of glass front and end walls of a show case, the top of the show case being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a like view of said connecting piece showing its under side;

Fig. 3 is a view of said connecting piece looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a portion of the same. A

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration by the drawings and for detailed description in the body of this specification, the connecting piece comprises a body portion 1, having means for bold ing two walls or sides of the show case in angular relation, viz., the glass front wall 2 and end wall 8. Such means shown are sockets 4, 5, angularly disposed, each such socket being formed by a pair of parallel depending flanges 6, 7, adapted to receive and hold the upper edges of the front and end walls or sides. The device also com prises means for holding the third wall of the show case, 0., the glass top 8, consisting of the members 9, 10, which are pro vided with clip portions 11, 12, adapted to hold the tops edges 18, 141., respectively, which are angularly disposed relatively to each other. These members are severally adjustable relatively to said edges respectively, being, as shown, slidable in guides or slide bearings, 15, 16, on the body portion 1.

When the front 2 and the end 3 are as sembled by inserting their upper edges in their sockets, the top 8 is laid on the body portion 1 and the slide members 9, 10 are severally slid so as to engage their clip portions with said angularly disposed edges of the top; and being so adjusted, the slide members are secured in their adjusted positions by turning the screws 17, 18 journaled in the lugs 19 and threaded in the lugs 20 on the body portion. The slide bearings are made compressible by the screws so as to bind or clamp the adjusted slide members in adjustment, as by splitting the slide bearings longitudinally at 21, the lugs 19 and 20 being located on opposite sides of the split 21.

The body portion 1 being preferably of spring material, the bearings may be sprung to compress them on the slide members by the screws; and loosening the screws releases the clamping action.

The slide members may be slid outwardly or removed from their bearings and their clip portions bent to closely conform to the edges of the top and thereupon slid into engaging adjustment, whereby there is no danger of breaking or chipping the glass by such conforming or bending of the clips in contact with the glass. A felt strip 22 maybe inserted between the body portion 1 and the top- 8.

Additional connecting means of any common or well-known form vmay beemployed, as for securing the bottom and back to the other sides or Walls of theshow case,..

' show-case.

members in said bearings adapted to ad justably hold angularly disposed edges respectively of the third wall; and means for springing said bearings elampingly on said members to secure them in their adjusted positions.

2. In aeonnecting piece for walls, of the character described; a body portion having means for holding one said wall, and havingvalso a springingly compressible slide bearing; a slide member in said bearing and adapted toadjustably hold an edge of another wall; and means for springmgly compressing said bearing clampingly on saidmember 'to secure it in its adjusted position.

3. In a connecting piece for walls, of the character described; a body portion having means for holding one said wall and havingalso a slide bearing split longitudinally whereby it is adapted to be clampr ingly compressed .onthe I slide member hereinafter named; a slide member in said hearing adapted .to ,adjustably hold an edge of another Wall; and screw clamping means adapted to compress said bearing to secure said member in its adjusted position.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 30thdayof August, 1917.

EDMUND 'MORRIS.

Copies of this patent may .be cbtainediforfive cents each, byaddressingihe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 11.0." I 

